SPT appoints Russia boss

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) has hired former Disney Russia executive Vadim Sokolovsky to lead its production business in the territory.

Sokolovsky, who becomes MD for SPT Productions Russia and Sony-owned prodco Lean-M Productions, will replace Maria Smirnova, who joined Russian broadcaster CTC to become its head of content production, acquisitions and sales in April.

Sokolovsky will manage all aspects of Sony’s television production business in Russia, including development, sales and production of programming, as well as the financial performance, strategic vision, operation and growth of those companies.

He will report to Jeff Lerner, senior VP of scripted programming and international production for SPT, who has been running the department since Smirnova’s departure.

Sokolovsky takes up his position at the beginning of September and will be based at SPT’s Moscow office.

SPT Productions Russia and Lean-M Productions produce original television series and adaptations of international TV formats for the Russian speaking-market.

SPT Russia recently remade US sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (Voroniny) and Married with Children (Schastlivy Vmeste), scripted dramedy Betty La Fea (Ne Rodis Krassivoy) and CTC original drama The Eighties.

Lean-M coproduced scripted reality series Strong Medicine (Vernoye sredstvo) with a recent fifth season renewal taking the total number of episodes to over 300.

Sokolovsky was Disney Russia’s director of film, production and acquisition between 2007 and 2010, and produced shows including long-running comedy series As the Bell Rings.

He was also head of production at Russian Media group Amedia, where he was responsible for numerous Russian-language series including Poor Anastasia (Bednaya Nastya).